Acne
What is Acne ? What are the grades of Acne ?
Acne may range from grade 1 to grade 4 depending on the type and severity of the skin lesions.
Grade 1 is mainly comedones (black heads and white heads).
Grade 2 and 3 acne consists of painful red bumps with or without pus collection in them.
Grade 4 acne is mainly large nodules and cysts.
Why does pimple/ Acne occur ?
The initiating event in acne is the blockage of a hair follicle (pore) due to abnormal shedding of dead skin cells. This leads to a buildup of dead skin and sebum (oil), forming a clogged pore or microcomedone—the first step in acne formation.
Once the pore is clogged:
- Sebum builds up, creating a perfect environment for bacterial growth (eg, Cutibacterium acnes).
- Bacteria multiply, triggering inflammation.
- The clogged pore develops into a whitehead, blackhead, pimple, or cyst, depending on the severity.
When to treat Acne ?
Grade 2 to grade 4 acne has a high chance of leaving permanent scars once healed or large open pores. In very mild cases we can choose not to undergo treatment.
Many times, resistant acne can be a manifestation of an underlying hormonal imbalance (eg –PCOS, hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinemia ) in which case it is necessary to address the cause, which subsequently controls acne.
How long should one undergo Acne treatment ?
Acne, mainly the one occurring in the early years of life, has large hormonal and genetic influence. And it may take quite a few years to resolve. Therefore a simple maintenance therapy is required.
Acne can also be triggered or aggravated by acute stress, hormonal imbalance such as hypothyroidism, perimenopausal changes and irritants which may have a different course of time.
What will be the cost of acne treatment?
The treatment of acne ranges from topical creams, facewash, sunscreens, oral tablets to procedural treatments such as chemical peeling, comedone extraction and lasers. The cost can be tailored to the individual’s need and feasibility of the treatment plan.
Can acne scars be treated ? What are the red and black spots left behind by the acne ?
The scars and pigmentation from acne can be treated considerably, with equal dedication from the patient side. A stepwise approach and patience can go a long way in the eventual result.
The treatment options for pigmentation include
- Depigmenting creams,
- Chemical peels,
- Microdermabrasion, Microneedling and
- Lasers.
The treatment of acne scars depends upon the nature of the scar.
( pitted, dot like scars or broader in nature called the rolled / box scars). The very superficial scars respond to medium depth chemical peeling. Most other scars need intervention such as microneedling laser or resurfacing laser.